The Opelousas courier., 1887-01-22
Thanksgiving in 1921.

From an Old newspaper, the Boston
Gazette. of October 9, 1921, the follow
ing quaint and curious proclamation was
copied. Boston has never known a more
doleful Thanksgiving Day than that OF
l72l; for during that year six thousand
persons, out of a population of about
nineteen thousand, had the smallpox,
and n thousand of them died. The
Indians had seriously threatened the
peace OF the colony, and Governor Shute,
. gentleman of high tory principles, was
in continual conflict with the Leeisla-
ture. The prominence given in the proc
lamation to the King, George, and the
royal family, was probably q political
stroke aimed by the Governor at his OPP.
ponents. It did not soothe them, and
the Governor soon after left the province.
By His EccegJency
SAMUEL SHuTE, ESQ.
Captain General and a~overnour-fn-
Chief, in and over His Maiesty's Province
OF the Massachusetts, Bay in New Eng
land etc. A Proclamation for a General
THANKSGIVING.
For as much as amidst the various
awful Rebukes OF Heaven, with which
we are righteously afflicted, in the Con
0aglous and Mortal Sickness among us,
especially in the Town Of Boston; The
long aud lmn1oderate Rains, which have
been SO hurtful to the Husbandry and
Fishery; And the threatening ASPECT Of
Affairs with Respect to our Frontiers:
we are still under the highest and most
indispensable Obligations of Gratitude
for tho many Instances OF the Divine
Goodness in the Favours vouchsafed to
us in the Course OF the Year past: Par
tlcnlarly, For the Life of our Gracious
Sovereign Lord the King, Their RovaI
Highnesses the Prince and Princess Of
Wales and their issue, and the increase
OF the Royal Family; The Preservation
OF His MaJesty's Kingdoms and Domin-
ions from the terrible and desolatine
: .Pestilenee, which hath for so long q
time been wasting the Kingdom of
France: And the happy Success of His
Mayesty's Wise Councils for Restoring
and Confirming the Peace of Europe;
Eor the Continuance of our valuable
Privileges, both Civil and Ecclesiastical:
and the Divine Blessing upon this Gov.
eminent in their Administrations: Par
tlcularIy, In succeeding the Methods
taken TO prevent the Insults OF the East
ern Indians; For giving SO great Meas
IRE o. Health WI9hin this Province, and
Moderasing the Mortality of the Small
Pox, 50 that 4 great Number OF Persons
are Recovered from that Disternper.
And for granting us so comfortable j
former Harvest, and so hopeful 3 Pros
pect OF the latter:
have, therefore, thought dc with the
Advice Of His Maiesty's Council, toordor
and Appoint Thursday, the Twenty-sfxth
Instant to be Observed as Day Of Pub
lick Thanksgiving throughout this Prov
lnce. strictly forbidding all SeryiIs La
bour thereon, and exEorting both Minis /
feys and People. iii their respective As
sesnbies on the said Day, to offer uD
humble and sincere Thanks to Almighty
God for His many Fayours, as afors-
said, and for many ether blessings bs-
slowed on q sinful People.
Given a Boston, the Eighteenth Day
u September, 1921. And III the Eighth
Year 0f the Reign of our Sovereign
Lord George. BIZ the Grace ef God at
Great Britain, France ard Ireland.
King Defender of tia Faith, etc.
By order Of The Goveraour, with Ad-
rice 1T the Council {. EHurH
WILLARIs. SseEl.
Cad Suge The ESnsgi